Information for Associated Countries

On 20 February, a webinar was held on the Digital Europe Call (DIGITAL-2023-EDIH-04-ASSOCIATED) ‘Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs – Associated Countries’. 

The webinar offered pre-selected candidates a deep dive into the Call and its application process. This was complemented by insight into the hands-on experience and good practices from already established EDIHs that shared tips and ‘dos and don’ts’ on how to prepare and submit a successful proposal. In addition, the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA) presented specific support measures offered to the DIGITAL-2023-EDIH-04-ASSOCIATED call applicants and to the EDIH Network. 

The recording of the session is available here.

The second meeting with Associated Countries was held online on the 28th September 2023.

The main objective of the meeting was to present the support that will be given to the proposers and guide them to write good proposals in order to be selected for funding in the European EDIH Call.

Please access the presentation that was shared during the meeting EDIH-AssociatedCountries presentation-28.09.2023.pdf as well as a quick introduction to the DTA team and services for the EDIH Network DTA General presentation-Associated countries-28.09.2023.pdf.

Additionally, the recording of the session is available here: https://webcast.ec.europa.eu/edihs-associated-countries-information-session-20230928-0744-1

On 12 July 2023, a first meeting was held online with representatives of countries that have either signed, or are intending to sign, an association agreement with the EU for the Digital Europe programme.

The main objective of the meeting was to discuss the next steps required to launch a call for the selection of European Digital Innovation Hubs in the Associated Countries, a process that has been scheduled for the beginning of 2024.

Access the presentation (pdf) shared during the meeting and the template (pdf) for the description of the national digitalisation strategy. An editable version of the template is available for download at the end of this page.

You can also watch the recording of the online meeting at this link:  https://webcast.ec.europa.eu/edihs-associated-countries-information-ses…

Below you can find some information useful for the preparation of the future EDIH call for Associated Countries.

All the information will be published on the Funding and Tender portal of the European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home  

The general workprogramme can be downloaded from this page: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/work-programmes-digital  

The workprograme is complemented by the call description, which is not yet available. As an example, you can look at the call description for the previous EDIH call, in the Funding and Tender portal: https://europa.eu/!YqBv9P    When the call description will be available, it will be published on the Funding and Tender portal and linked on this page. 

According to the the workprogramme "Associated Countries are requested to designate a number of potential EDIHs geographically spread (in case they will have more than one EDIH) over the country, that respond to the demand of industry and public sector while taking into account existing assets and National priorities. They have to be selected through an open and competitive process in accordance with national procedures, administrative and institutional structures."

The result of the selection will be a designation letter that potential EDIHs will have to attach to their proposal submitted to the European Commission call.

Please note that in preparation for the previous EDIH calls, the European Commission had organised a cycle of online workshop addressing the different aspects of the process. All the relevant information can be found on this page: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/cycle-workshops-european-digital-innovation-hubs

The proposals that will be selected in the EDIH call for Associated Countries will sign a grant with the European Commission. To do this, all the entities participating in the proposal will have to register in the Funding and Tender portal as participants, and receive a "Participant Identification Code" (PIC).

The steps to follow are described here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/how-to-participate/participant-register

Registering as participant does not entail any obligation for the entity, and can significantly reduce the time needed to sign a grant with the European Commission.

The European Commission will be assisted, in the evaluation of proposals for the EDIH call, by external experts. We ask each Associated Country to nominate one "national expert" which is knowledgeable on the situation of the country in terms of digitalisation needs, and that can contribute to evaluate fairly the proposals received.

To work as an expert for the European Commission, (s)he will have to register as an expert in the portal. The various steps needed are explained here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/work-as-an-expert  On the same link you find also all the information about contracts and remuneration of experts.

Registering as an expert does not entail any obligation, but is necessary to work in the evaluation of any call for proposals of the European Commission.